Game Ball

ABSTRACT

Ball structures, such as basketballs, are formed to include regions with different and distinct tactile characteristics or “feel.” Such ball structures may include a cover member divided into plural panels that are separated by channels. The exterior surface of one or more of these panels may include regions having different textures. One region, which extends over a central portion of the panel, includes raised elements, such as raised ribs or other structures, that may extend at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority benefits based on U.S. ProvisionalPatent Appln. No. 60/873,622 filed Dec. 6, 2006 entitled “Game Ball,”and naming Glenn Geisendorfer as the inventor. This earlier provisionalpatent application is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game ball having improved tactilefeel. Various examples of the invention may be particularly related tobasketball structures having a plurality of ribs and/or other surfacetexture modifying elements arranged about their circumference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many sports require a player to manipulate a ball with his or her hands.With the sport of basketball in particular, each player will typicallyhold, throw, and dribble the basketball frequently during the course ofthe game. In addition to requiring a player to manipulate the ball in avariety of different ways, basketball also requires that a playermanipulate the ball using a variety of nuanced techniques. For example,in many sports, the game ball may be gripped by the entirety of aplayer's hand (e.g., baseball or softball), cradled securely in theplayer's arms (e.g., football or rugby), or slapped with an open hand orfist (e.g., handball or volleyball). In addition to each of thesetechniques, however, basketball typically requires that a player use hisor her fingertips to manipulate and control the basketball. Moreparticularly, a user will use his or her fingertips to dribble the ballor to precisely control the trajectory of the ball when throwing it toanother player, e.g., using a “bounce pass.”

Perhaps most importantly, however, a player will use his or herfingertips to precisely control the rotation and trajectory of thebasketball when throwing or “shooting” the ball toward the hoop of abasketball goal in an effort to score. The rotation of a ball cangenerally be segregated into two components: speed of rotation andalignment of the ball during rotation. The speed of rotation relates tohow fast the ball is revolving about an axis, while alignment relates tothe degree to which the angle of that axis remains constant relative tothe direction of the flight of the ball toward the target. To someextent, these components are related, for example, as a fasterrotational speed helps to maintain a ball's alignment.

As a result of these features, contact feel or “touch” that a basketballprovides to a player, and particularly to a player's fingertips, is animportant characteristic. If the surface of a basketball is too smooth,a player's fingertips may slip when dribbling, passing or shooting theball. On the other hand, if the basketball has a surface that is toosticky or “grippy,” a player may find it difficult to separate his orher fingertips from the ball with a sufficient degree of precision toprovide the ball with the desired direction of spin, rotational speedand trajectory. Improvements to the “touch” or “feel” of ball structureswould be a welcome advance in the art.

SUMMARY

Various example structures according to this invention advantageouslyrelate to a game ball, such as a basketball, having an improved tactilefeel. With some implementations of the invention, the surface of thegame ball will have a plurality of ribs or other surface texturemodifying elements that provide an improved tactile feel for a player.The ribs or other elements may, for example, extend around the entirecircumference of the game ball. Alternately, the ribs or other elementsmay be provided only at discrete areas around the circumference of thegame ball. With at least some implementations of the invention, the ribsor other elements will provide a distinct appearance that is differentfrom other surfaces of the ball. By providing the ribs or other surfacetexture modifying elements at only discrete areas around thecircumference of the game ball, a player may use these areas to visuallyascertain the rotational speed of the game ball during a throw or shot.

According to various examples of the invention, the ribs or othersurface texture modifying elements may extend or align along alongitudinal axis of the game ball. This implementation may beparticularly beneficial for a basketball, as many experts recommend thatplayers shoot a basketball so that the basketball rotates about itslongitudinal axis. Extending the ribs or other elements along thelongitudinal axis of a basketball will provide a player with the maximumtactile contact when the player positions the basketball to be shot sothat it rotates about its longitudinal axis.

Various advantages and features of novelty that characterize theinvention are pointed out with particularity in the claims. For a betterunderstanding of the invention, however, reference should be made to thedrawings and to the accompanying descriptive matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view an example basketball structure accordingto the invention;

FIG. 1B is a flattened view of an exterior cover member of an examplebasketball of the type illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a top planar view of an example ribbed panel that may be usedin ball structures according to some examples of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the panel shown in FIG. 2 along sectionline 3-3′;

FIG. 4 illustrates another example cover member for a basketballstructure according to this invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates another example cover member for a basketballstructure according to this invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another example cover member for a basketballstructure according to this invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates still another example cover member for a basketballstructure according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. General Description of BallStructures According to Examples of this Invention

Aspects of this invention relate to game ball structures, such asbasketball structures, that include regions with distinctly differenttactile characteristics or “feel.” Game ball structures in accordancewith at least some examples of this invention may include a ballstructure having a cover member that defines or covers a gas-tightchamber, wherein the ball structure defines a first pole and an oppositesecond pole. The cover member in at least some example structuresaccording to this invention may include an exterior surface divided intoa plurality of panels that are separated from one another by one or morechannels, and at least some of these panels may extend along a peripheryor circumference of the ball structure from an area adjacent the firstpole to an area adjacent the second pole. An exterior surface of one ormore of these panels may be structured so as to include a first regionhaving a first surface texture thereon and a second region having asecond surface texture thereon that differs from the first surfacetexture. This first region may be arranged to extend at least over acentral portion of the panel located between the first and second poles,while the second region may be arranged outside of this central portionof the panel and may have the structure and texture of a conventionalball surface (e.g., a “pebbled” texture of a conventional basketballsurface). The exterior surface of the first region may includes pluralraised elements, such as raised ribs, hemispheres, or other structures,that optionally extend at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface ofthe cover member, so as to provide the first surface texture.

Additional aspects of this invention relate to cover members for a ball,such as a basketball, that include the various regions with differentsurface textures as described above. Such cover members may be fit overa gas-tight bladder or other internal structure of a ball, e.g., forholding air or other fluid, or the cover member itself may define atleast a portion of a gas-tight chamber for the ball. A series of panelsfor a ball structure may con-joined together, e.g., on the ballstructure itself and/or as a flat “blank” member that may be arrangedand/or fixed together to fit around an internal structure of the ball.

If desired, the region(s) of the ball having the differently “texturedsurface” from that of a conventional ball may be centrally located onthe ball, e.g., on the various panels between two opposing poles of theball. The textured surfaces may be aligned on the various panels, andoptionally colored somewhat differently, so as to provide a visualindicator of the ball's rotation. If desired, the differently texturedsurface(s) may be surrounded by a region or regions having conventionalball surface texture characteristics.

Additional aspects of this invention relate to features at and near thechannels between adjacent panels. If desired, in ball structures inaccordance with at least some examples of this invention, the majorsurface of this channel may be contoured, e.g., shaped so as to curveinwardly and away from a direction in which the ribs or other texturecreating projections extend. Additionally (or alternatively), ifdesired, one or more of the ribs (or other texture creating projections)located immediately adjacent the channels may be sized, shaped, and/orotherwise arranged so as to slope toward the base surface (or majorexterior surface) of the channel (to thereby make the transition intothe channel more smooth and/or to thereby make the channel feel somewhatwider).

In light of this general description of aspects and features of thisinvention, a more detailed description of specific examples of ballstructures in accordance with examples of this invention follows.

B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF BALL STRUCTURESACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a basketball 101 according to variousimplementations of the invention. As illustrated in these figures, thebasketball 101 has a first pole 103 and a second pole 105. A series ofconnected panels 107 running longitudinally between the first pole 103and the second pole 105 forms the body and exterior cover member of thebasketball 101. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1A, the basketball 101of this example structure is made up of eight panels 107, but variousembodiments of the invention may employ more panels or fewer panels. Asalso illustrated in this figure, with each pair of adjacent panels 107,the panels 107 are separated by a seam or channel 109. With theillustrated example, the poles 103 and 105 also are separated from thepanels 107 by a channel 109. The basketball 101 further may include aninternal bladder and a valve 111 for inflating the ball to a desiredpressure.

The basketball 101 may be formed using any desired construction, such asany conventional basketball construction. For example, with someimplementations of the invention, the basketball 101 may have an innerportion and an outer covering. The inner portion may include, e.g., abladder and a carcass. With various examples of the invention, thebladder may be formed of butyl rubber, while the carcass may be formedof threads of nylon, polyester or other suitable material wound aroundthe bladder. The outer covering may be formed of any desired natural orsynthetic rubber composition or material, synthetic or natural leather,polymeric materials, or other desired materials. With someimplementations of the invention, the outer covering may be formed oflaminated rubber. The rubber may be natural or synthetic, and the rubbermay be laminated with any desired material, such as polyurethane. Stillfurther, the basketball 101 may be formed without an inner portion,i.e., such that the outer covering serves also as the airtight bladderfor the ball. Various techniques and materials for constructingbasketballs (and other game balls) are well known in the art, and thuswill not be discussed here in more detail.

With various examples of the invention, the poles 103 and 105, panels107, and channels 109 may be cosmetic. For example, the poles 103 and105, panels 107, and channels 109 may be defined by artificially-createdcontours formed in the surface of the basketball's outer covering.Alternately, the poles 103 and 105 and panels 107 may be cosmetic (e.g.,defined by artificially-created contours formed in the surface of thebasketball's outer covering). The channels 109 may then also includematerial laminated, painted, or otherwise applied to correspondingcontours formed in the surface of the basketball's outer covering. Stillfurther, one or more of the poles 103 and 105 and the panels 107 may beformed from separate pieces of the outer covering. The separate poles103 and 105 and panels 107 can then be sown, adhered, or otherwisejoined to each other, or sown, adhered, or otherwise joined to theunderlying carcass (or bladder if a carcass is omitted). The channels109 may then be formed by laminating, painting, or otherwise applyingmaterial to the appropriate locations, e.g., joints between the poles103 and 105 and panels 107.

With yet other example structures according to this invention, thebasketball 101 may omit the channels 109, the poles 103 and 105, orboth. For example, the basketball 101 may be formed with an outercovering that omits the channels 109, so that the basketball appears tohave a continuous surface over the entire circumference of the ball. Thebasketball 101 alternately may be formed with an outer covering thatomits both the channels 109 and the poles 103 and 105, so that thebasketball appears to have a continuous surface over the entire surfacearea of the ball. Other structural arrangements of the cover featuresare possible without departing from this invention.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1A, the surface of this examplebasketball structure 101 according to the invention also includes aplurality of ribs 113. The ribs 113 are illustrated in more detail inFIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a top planar view of one panel 107, whileFIG. 3 shows a cross section of the panel 107 shown in FIG. 2 (alongwith a portion of an adjacent panel) along section line 3-3′ from FIG.2.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the panel 107 has a channel area 201 runningalong each of its longitudinal sides. The corresponding channel areas201 of adjacent panels 107 are joined to form a channel 109 (the channelareas 201 of adjacent panels may overlap and/or co-extend with oneanother). The panel 107 also has a surface texture modified area 203,which in this example panel structure 107 contains a plurality of ribs113. On either side of the ribbed area 203 is a non-ribbed area 205. Thenon-ribbed areas 205 may have a conventional pebbled surface, as shownin FIG. 2. Alternately, the non-ribbed areas 205 may have a smoothsurface, or a surface with any desired topography. With various examplestructures according to the invention, the panel 107 may omit one orboth of the non-ribbed areas 205. For example, in some implementationsof the invention, the ribs 113 (or other surface texture modifyingelements) may extend along the entire length of the panel 107. In theplanar view of FIG. 2, the ribs 113 appear relatively straight along thecenter of the panel 107 and appear to become more curved toward theedges of the panel 107. As will be appreciated by those of ordinaryskill in the art, the ribs 113 may be arranged substantially parallel inthe longitudinal direction when the panel is formed into the sphericalshape of the ball 101.

FIG. 3 illustrates the ribs 113 of this example panel structure 107 inmore detail. As illustrated in this figure, the ribs 113 are formed onthe outer covering 301 of the basketball 101. The ribs 113 may be formedof any desirable material such as, for example, polyurethane or rubber.In the illustrated example, the ribs 113 may be formed separately fromthe outer covering 301, and then laminated, adhered, or otherwisesecured to the outer covering 301. With alternate examples of theinvention, however, the ribs 113 may be formed integrally with the outercovering 301. For example, the outer covering 301 may be molded orpressed to have a topography forming the ribs 113.

With various example structures according to this invention, the ribs113 may have any desired size and shape. In the illustrated example ofthe invention, however, the ribs 113 have an overall height (from thetop of covering 301 to the rib tip, dimension “H₁”) of approximately 1mm, with a distance between the crest and trough of a rib (from the basesurface of the cover member to the rib tip, dimension “H₂”) beingapproximately 0.8 mm (which leaves the thickness (dimension “T₁”) of thecover member base surface of approximately 0.2 mm in this examplestructure). The width of the trough between ribs 113 (dimension “W₁”) inthe illustrated example structure is about 0.5 mm or less, althoughother widths may be used without departing from this invention. Thewidth of the channel 109 (dimension “W₂”) in this example structure maybe approximately 6 mm. The outer covering 301 or bladder thickness (orcombined bladder and carcass thickness), dimension “T₂”, in this examplestructure, may be about 1.9 mm.

In the illustrated example, the ribs 113 are formed so that the contourof a channel 109 generally merges into the contour of its adjacent ribs113. More particularly, as shown at locations 303 in FIG. 3, the side ofone or more ribs 113 adjacent to a channel 109 flows into the channel109. This arrangement may be accomplished, e.g., by pressing the ribs113 into the outer covering 301, and then forming a portion of thechannel 109 over a portion of the adjacent side of each adjacent rib113. Of course, other techniques and/or constructions can be employed toprovide a smooth transition between a channel 109 and its adjacent ribs113 without departing from this invention.

The exterior cover members for ball structures can take on a variety ofcharacteristics without departing from this invention. FIG. 4illustrates another example of an exterior cover member structure 401according to at least some examples of this invention (the samereference numbers are used in FIG. 4 as used in other figures above whenidentifying the same or similar features or parts, and thus thecorresponding description thereof will be omitted). As illustrated inthis figure, not every panel 107 includes surface texture modifyingelements, such as raised ribs 113. Rather, as illustrated in FIG. 4,every other panel 107 includes the surface texture modifying elements113 in its central region. Of course, other arrangements of panels withand without surface texture modifying elements may be used withoutdeparting from this invention.

In the various example cover member structures according to theinvention described above, when it was present, the surface texturemodifying portion of a panel (e.g., the portion of a panel 107 includingthe ribs 113 or other surface texture modifying elements) extendedcontinuously across the panel from one channel 109 to the oppositechannel 109 (e.g., in the latitudinal direction). This is not arequirement. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the portions 503 ofexterior cover member 501 including the raised ribs 113 or other surfacetexture modifying elements need not extend completely across the panel107 in the latitudinal direction. Rather, as shown in this figure, thesurface texture modifying portions 503 of the panels 107 stop short ofthe channels 109. Additionally (and as also illustrated in FIGS. 1B and4), the surface texture modifying portion(s) (e.g., portion 503) of apanel 107 may include logos, graphics, and/or other information orindicia, and this additional information also may interrupt the ribstructure or other surface modifying element arrangement. In structure501, it is not necessary to modify the ribs 113 (or other structures)located adjacent the channels to more smoothly flow into the channels109 (as described above in conjunction with FIG. 3).

FIG. 6 illustrates another example exterior cover member structure 601in which the surface texture modifying regions 603 do not extendcontinuously across the various panels 107 when viewed in thelatitudinal direction. Rather, as shown in this figure, the surfacetexture modifying regions 603 of each panel 107 include multipleseparate portions or sections (e.g., longitudinal ribbed sectionsseparated by spaces without ribs or with different texturing). Ifdesired, the separation spaces (or differently textured sections) mayinclude the same texture as the areas of the panel 107 outside thesurface texture modifying regions 603 (e.g., a pebbled type texture orother conventional ball surface textures). Additionally oralternatively, if desired, the separation spaces (or the differentlytextured sections within the surface texture modifying regions 603) neednot extend the complete length and/or width of the surface texturemodifying regions 603 (e.g., if desired, the separations may becompletely surrounded or partially surrounded by surface texturemodifying structures, such as the ribs 113 or other structures).Additionally or alternatively, if desired, one or more of the ribs 113or other structures may include gaps or spaces in the longitudinaldirection.

Any desired arrangement of textured (e.g., ribbed) sections andseparation spaces (or differently textured sections) may be included inindividual surface texture modifying regions 603 without departing fromthis invention. As another example, if desired, the textured sections603 and their included separation spaces may be structured and arrangedto produce a logo or other feature on the surface of the cover member601. As yet another example, plural textured sections 603 over thecourse of multiple panels 107 may cooperate or be viewed together toproduce a logo, corporate name, or other desired indicia on the surfaceof a ball. Each panel 107 need not have the same identical texturedsection 603 (and some panels 107 may have no textured section 603, ifdesired).

In the various example ball structures described above, the texturemodifying structures have been illustrated in the form of raised ribsthat extend (continuously or discontinuously) in the longitudinaldirection of the various panels 107. This is not a requirement. FIG. 7illustrates an example exterior ball cover member 701 in which thesurface texture modifying sections 703 are formed as individual raisedsurfaces or “bumps” 705. Any desired shaped raised surface or bump maybe used without departing from this invention, such as hemispheres orother portions of a sphere, hemi-ellipsoids or other portions of anellipsoid, paraboloids, polygons (such as cubic structures), cylinders,irregularly shaped extensions or protrusion, etc. In order to provide aclear feel and tactile distinction from other areas of the ball, theseraised surfaces or bumps 705 should be made larger and/or higher thanthe relatively low and smooth features of other surfaces of the ball,such as the conventional pebbling texture on basketball (and other ball)structures. For example, if desired, the free ends of the bumps orraised surfaces may extend at least 0.5 mm above the base surface of thecover member (e.g., dimension H₂ in FIG. 3). While any desired raisedsurface height H₂ may be used without departing from this invention, insome example structures, this dimension may be in the range of 0.5 to 12mm, 0.7 to 10 mm, or even 0.7 to 6 mm. Ideally, the ribs, bumps, orother surface texture modifying structures will be made sufficientlylarge and will be appropriately arranged so as to provide good tactilefeedback to the user while not being so large and/or arranged so as toadversely effect movement of the ball, e.g., when it contacts anotherobject, such as the floor, the backboard, the basketball rim, etc.(i.e., the ball should still produce a true “bounce” that substantiallyreplicates the action of a conventional ball).

The individual bumps 705 may be arranged in any desired pattern withoutdeparting from this invention, including in regular patterns, staggeredpatterns, random patterns, continuous patterns, discontinuous patterns,and the like. Additionally, if desired, as described above, the bumps705 may be arranged to produce logos, pictures, words, or any otherdesired indicia on the surface of the ball. Moreover, each panel 107 ofa given ball structure need not have the same arrangement of bumps 705(or other surface texture modifying structures). In fact, if desired(and as described above in conjunction with FIG. 4), some panels 107 mayinclude no bumps 705 or other surface texture modifying structures.

If desired, ball structures in accordance with at least some examples ofthis invention may include additional structures or features that helpprovide a distinct tactile or “feel” characteristic for certain areas ofthe ball surface with respect to the others. For example, if desired,the material of the surface texture modifying region may have a somewhatdifferent hardness as compared with the material outside of this region(e.g., the conventional basketball cover material). As another example,if desired, the material of the surface texture modifying region mayhave a somewhat different thermal conductivity as compared with thematerial outside of this region (so that it may feel a slightlydifferent temperature). As yet another example, if desired, the materialof the surface texture modifying region may be heated or cooled whilethe material outside this region is not temperature modified (or viceversa).

Other features may be included in ball structures according to at leastsome examples of this invention. For example, as noted above, featuresmay be provided to enhance visualization of the alignment, spin, orrotation of the ball as it is thrown, shot, or otherwise moved. One wayof doing this would be to make the color of the material of the surfacetexture modifying region (or portions thereof) different from the colorof the material outside this region. On the other hand, modification ofthe colors may not be necessary, e.g., if such modification is notdesired and/or if the structure of the surface texture modifyingadequately stand out visually.

C. CONCLUSION

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described example structures that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

1. A basketball, comprising: a ball structure including a cover memberthat defines or covers a gas-tight chamber, wherein the ball structuredefines a first pole and an opposite second pole, wherein the covermember includes an exterior surface divided into a plurality of panelsthat are separated from one another by one or more channels, whereineach of the panels extends along a periphery of the ball structure froman area adjacent the first pole to an area adjacent the second pole,wherein an exterior surface of at least some of the panels includes afirst region having a first surface texture, wherein the first regionextends at least over a central portion of the panel located between thefirst and second poles, and wherein the first surface texture isprovided, at least in part, by plural ribs that extend in a longitudinaldirection between the first and second poles.
 2. A basketball accordingto claim 1, wherein the exterior surfaces of at least some of the panelsthat include the first surface texture also include a second regionhaving a second surface texture that is different from the first surfacetexture.
 3. A basketball according to claim 1, wherein the exteriorsurfaces of at least some of the panels that include the first surfacetexture also include a second region having a second surface texture anda third region separate from the second region that also has the secondsurface texture, wherein the second surface texture is different fromthe first surface texture.
 4. A basketball according to claim 3, whereinthe second region is located adjacent the first pole, the third regionis located adjacent the second pole, and the first region is locatedbetween the second region and the third region.
 5. A basketballaccording to claim 1, wherein each panel of the exterior surface of thecover member includes a first region having the first surface texture.6. A basketball according to claim 5, wherein the first regions of thepanels align around the periphery of the ball structure at a centralregion located between the first pole and the second pole.
 7. Abasketball according to claim 5, wherein the cover member includes atleast eight panels.
 8. A basketball according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a gas-tight bladder that defines the gas-tight chamber,wherein the cover member encloses the gas-tight bladder.
 9. A basketballaccording to claim 8, further comprising: a valve member that allowsinflation of the gas-tight chamber.
 10. A cover member for a basketball,comprising: a plurality of con-joined panels separated by channels, theplurality of conjoined panels including a first panel having a firstchannel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edgethereof, wherein an exterior surface of the first panel includes a firstregion having a first surface texture, wherein the first region extendsat least over a central portion of the first panel, and wherein thefirst surface texture is provided, at least on part, by plural ribs thatextend in a direction along the first channel and by plural ribs thatextend in a direction along the second channel.
 11. A cover member for abasketball according to claim 10, wherein the exterior surface of thefirst panel also includes a second region having a second surfacetexture that is different from the first surface texture.
 12. A covermember for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein the exteriorsurface of the first panel also includes a second region having a secondsurface texture and a third region separate from the second region thatalso has the second surface texture, wherein the second surface textureis different from the first surface texture.
 13. A cover member for abasketball according to claim 12, wherein the second region extendsbetween the first channel and the second channel and is located on afirst side of the first region and the third region extends between thefirst channel and the second channel and is located on a second side ofthe first region opposite from the first side.
 14. A cover member for abasketball according to claim 12, wherein the first region extendscontinuously between the first and second channels.
 15. A cover memberfor a basketball according to claim 14, wherein the second regionextends continuously between the first and second channels and the thirdregion extends continuously between the first and second channels.
 16. Acover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein theplurality of con-joined panels includes at least eight panels.
 17. Acover member for a basketball according to claim 16, wherein each panelincludes a central portion having the first surface texture.
 18. A covermember for a basketball according to claim 17, wherein the centralportions including the first surface texture align.
 19. A cover memberfor a basketball according to claim 16, wherein at least one panel doesnot include the first surface texture.
 20. A cover member for abasketball according to claim 10, wherein a first end of the first panelincludes a first pole region.
 21. A cover member for a basketballaccording to claim 20, wherein a second end of the first panel oppositethe first end includes a second pole region.
 22. A cover member for abasketball according to claim 10, wherein a rib located immediatelyadjacent the first channel is shaped and arranged to slope toward thefirst channel.
 23. A cover member for a basketball according to claim22, wherein a rib located immediately adjacent the second channel isshaped and arranged to slope toward the second channel.
 24. A covermember for a basketball according to claim 22, wherein a base surface ofthe first channel is contoured.
 25. A cover member for a basketballaccording to claim 24, wherein the base surface of the first channel iscontoured in a direction away from the plural ribs.
 26. A cover memberfor a basketball according to claim 10, wherein the plurality ofcon-joined panels further includes a second panel having a first channelat a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof,wherein the first channel of the second panel is at least partiallyco-extensive with the second channel of the first panel.
 27. A covermember for a basketball according to claim 26, wherein an exteriorsurface of the second panel includes a first region having the firstsurface texture, wherein the first region of the second panel extends atleast over a central portion of the second panel, and wherein the firstsurface texture of the second panel is provided, at least in part, byplural ribs that extend in a direction along the first channel of thesecond panel and by plural ribs that extend in a direction along thesecond channel of the second panel.
 28. A cover member for a basketballaccording to claim 27, wherein the exterior surface of the first panelalso includes a second region having a second surface texture that isdifferent from the first surface texture, and wherein the exteriorsurface of the second panel also includes a second region having thesecond surface texture.
 29. A cover member for a basketball according toclaim 27, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includesa second region having a second surface texture and a third regionseparate from the second region that also has the second surfacetexture, wherein the second surface texture is different from the firstsurface texture, and wherein the exterior surface of the second panelalso includes a second region having the second surface texture and athird region separate from the second region that also has the secondsurface texture.
 30. A cover member for a basketball according to claim27, wherein the first regions of the first and second panels eachextends continuously between their panel's respective first and secondchannels.
 31. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10,wherein the exterior surface of the first panel includes a second regionhaving a second surface texture that differs from the first surfacetexture, wherein the second surface texture is a pebbled texture.
 32. Acover member for a basketball according to claim 31, wherein the secondregion surrounds the first region.
 33. A basketball, comprising: a ballstructure including a cover member that defines or covers a gas-tightchamber, wherein the cover member includes an exterior surface dividedinto a plurality of panels separated by channels, the plurality ofpanels including a first panel having a first channel at a first edgethereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof, wherein anexterior surface of the first panel includes a first region having afirst surface texture, wherein the first region extends at least over acentral portion of the first panel, and wherein the first surfacetexture is provided, at least in part, by plural ribs that extend in adirection along the first channel and by plural ribs that extend in adirection along the second channel.
 34. A basketball according to claim33, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes asecond region having a second surface texture that is different from thefirst surface texture.
 35. A basketball according to claim 33, whereinthe exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second regionhaving a second surface texture and a third region separate from thesecond region that also has the second surface texture, wherein thesecond surface texture is different from the first surface texture. 36.A basketball according to claim 35, wherein the second region extendsbetween the first channel and the second channel and is located on afirst side of the first region and the third region extends between thefirst channel and the second channel and is located on a second side ofthe first region opposite from the first side.
 37. A basketballaccording to claim 35, wherein the first region extends continuouslybetween the first and second channels.
 38. A basketball according toclaim 37, wherein the second region extends continuously between thefirst and second channels and the third region extends continuouslybetween the first and second channels.
 39. A basketball according toclaim 33, wherein the plurality of panels includes at least eightpanels.
 40. A basketball according to claim 39, wherein each panelincludes a central portion having the first surface texture.
 41. Abasketball according to claim 40, wherein the central portions includingthe first surface texture align.
 42. A basketball according to claim 39,wherein at least one panel does not include the first surface texture.43. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein a first end of the firstpanel includes a first pole region.
 44. A basketball according to claim43, wherein a second end of the first panel opposite the first endincludes a second pole region.
 45. A basketball according to claim 33,wherein a rib located immediately adjacent the first channel is shapedand arranged to slope toward the first channel.
 46. A basketballaccording to claim 45, wherein a rib located immediately adjacent thesecond channel is shaped and arranged to slope toward the secondchannel.
 47. A basketball according to claim 45, wherein a base surfaceof the first channel is contoured.
 48. A basketball according to claim47, wherein the base surface of the first channel is contoured in adirection away from the plural ribs.
 49. A basketball according to claim33, wherein the plurality of panels further includes a second panelhaving a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at asecond edge thereof, wherein the first channel of the second panel is atleast partially co-extensive with the second channel of the first panel.50. A basketball according to claim 49, wherein an exterior surface ofthe second panel includes a first region having the first surfacetexture, wherein the first region of the second panel extends at leastover a central portion of the second panel, and wherein the firstsurface texture of the second panel is provided, at least in part, byplural ribs that extend in a direction along the first channel of thesecond panel and by plural ribs that extend in a direction along thesecond channel of the second panel.
 51. A basketball according to claim50, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes asecond region having a second surface texture that is different from thefirst surface texture, and wherein the exterior surface of the secondpanel also includes a second region having the second surface texture.52. A basketball according to claim 50, wherein the exterior surface ofthe first panel also includes a second region having a second surfacetexture and a third region separate from the second region that also hasthe second surface texture, wherein the second surface texture isdifferent from the first surface texture, and wherein the exteriorsurface of the second panel also includes a second region having thesecond surface texture and a third region separate from the secondregion that also has the second surface texture.
 53. A basketballaccording to claim 50, wherein the first regions of the first and secondpanels each extends continuously between their panel's respective firstand second channels.
 54. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein theexterior surface of the first panel includes a second region having asecond surface texture that differs from the first surface texture,wherein the second surface texture is a pebbled texture.
 55. Abasketball according to claim 54, wherein the second region surroundsthe first region.
 56. A basketball according to claim 33, furthercomprising: a gas-tight bladder that defines the gas-tight chamber,wherein the cover member encloses the gas-tight bladder.
 57. Abasketball according to claim 56, further comprising: a valve memberthat allows inflation of the gas-tight chamber.
 58. A basketball,comprising: a ball structure including a cover member that defines orcovers a gas-tight chamber, wherein the ball structure defines a firstpole and an opposite second pole, wherein the cover member includes anexterior surface divided into a plurality of panels that are separatedfrom one another by one or more channels, wherein each of the panelsextends along a periphery of the ball structure from an area adjacentthe first pole to an area adjacent the second pole, wherein an exteriorsurface of at least some of the panels includes a first region having afirst surface texture and a second region having a second surfacetexture that differs from the first surface texture, wherein the firstregion extends at least over a central portion of the panel locatedbetween the first and second poles, and wherein the exterior surface ofthe first region includes plural raised elements extending at least 0.5mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.
 59. A cover memberfor a basketball, comprising: a plurality of con-joined panels separatedby channels, the plurality of conjoined panels including a first panelhaving a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at asecond edge thereof, wherein an exterior surface of the first panelincludes a first region having a first surface texture and a secondregion having a second surface texture, wherein the first region extendsat least over a central portion of the first panel, and wherein thefirst surface texture is provided, at least in part, by plural raisedelements extending at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of thefirst panel.
 60. A basketball, comprising: a ball structure including acover member that defines or covers a gas-tight chamber, wherein thecover member includes an exterior surface divided into a plurality ofpanels separated by channels, the plurality of panels including a firstpanel having a first channel at a first edge thereof and a secondchannel at a second edge thereof, wherein an exterior surface of thefirst panel includes a first region having a first surface texture and asecond region having a second surface texture, wherein the first regionextends at least over a central portion of the first panel, and whereinthe first surface texture is provided, at least in part, by pluralraised elements extending at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface ofthe cover member.